subsidies
Bush backs phase-out of sugar supports
Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, seeking the Republican nomination for president, "is parting ways with the [sugar] industry and calling for an end to government subsidies that have boosted company profits for decades," reports the Washington Post.
House leaders back off crop-insurance cuts
Confronted by angry farm-state lawmakers, House Republican leaders agreed they will not carry out the 3-percent cut in crop insurance spending that is part of a two-year budget agreement. "I take our leadership at their word when they committed to me and many of my colleagues that we will eliminate these harmful provisions in the not-too-distant future," said Agriculture Committee chairman Michael Conaway, a Texas Republican.
Budget deal slashes rate of return for crop insurers
The budget agreement pending in Congress directs the Agriculture Department to reduce sharply the rate of return to crop insurers in order to save $3 billion over the next 10 years. The cuts, amounting to slightly more than 3 percent of projected spending on the federally subsidized program, were opposed by leaders of the House and Senate Agriculture committees.
Conaway urges tougher enforcement of trade rules
Decrying "cheating by foreign countries," House Agriculture chairman Michael Conaway called for tougher action to protect U.S. exports. "Things must change. Our agreements must be enforced," said Conaway at a hearing on international trade as the World Trade Organization tries to wrap up the long-running Doha Round of negotiations.
Risk of U.S. farm supports exceeding Doha Round targets
There is almost no risk that the United States will exceed WTO limits on agricultural subsidies with the 2014 farm law, but the picture could be far different if Doha Round proposals are adopted, according to three senior economists.
NFU wants to jettison STAX, keep cotton in farm program
The nation's second-largest farm group, the National Farmers Union, adopted a policy statement that opposes the STAX program for cotton. STAX, a combination of a floor price and revenue insurance, was created in the 2014 farm law to resolve a World Trade Organization ruling against U.S. cotton subsidies. "While this program is subsidized at 80 percent, this is a shallow-loss program that, according to many economists, is unaffordable," says NFU.
At Ag Summit, Bush and Cruz speak against ethanol mandate
Two potential aspirants for the Republican nomination for president, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz spoke against an ethanol mandate at the Iowa Ag Summit, according to reports in the Washington Post and the New York Times.
U.S. challenges China over export subsidies
The United States initiated consultations at the World Trade Organization over China's export subsidy system, announced U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman. Consultations are the first step at WTO.
Premium cap on crop insurance could hurt enrollment-Vilsack
The Senate proposal to place a $50,000 cap on premium subsidies for farmers buying crop insurance "could potentially impact participation" in the program, says Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. The government pays an average of 62 cents of each $1 of premium, although the subsidy rate is as high as 80 percent on some policies. During a tele-conference, Vilsack said, "We don't want to go back to the days of ad hoc (disaster relief) legislation. That could potentially be much more expensive."
Goodbye, DEIP and EEP
The government has erased from its books the regulations for two export subsidy programs, the Export Enhancement Program and Dairy Export Incentive Program, that were mothballed years ago.
Pare crop insurance subsidies, encourage diversity-Report
Congress should phase out premium subsidies on crop insurance policies sold to the wealthiest U.S. farmers and offer policies that reward growers who hedge their risks by planting a variety of crops instead of specializing in one or two crops, said...
US gains peace with Brazil on cotton with $300 million pact
Brazil agreed to end a decade-old World Trade Organization case against U.S. cotton subsidies and to a peace clause for the life of the 2014 farm law in exchange for $300 million and technical assistance for its cotton sector.